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The northern lights — or aurora borealis — are created by solar flares on the sun's surface

The northern lights dazzled spectators across B.C.'s South Coast last night. (@afrostedlens/Instagram)

British Columbians in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island were treated to a spectacular display of northern lights Wednesday night.

Northern lights — or aurora borealis — are created by solar flares on the sun's surface that create gusts of solar winds that pass through the Earth's atmosphere causing particles to emit the brilliant colours.

It is unusual for the lights be seen this far south, but the stronger the solar flare, the farther south they can be seen.